Casting rod



Aug. 21, 1956 B. BRATEK CASTING ROD Filed April 12, 1954 R. m m. kw m a r B ,m I w a m w e B m m m United States Patent Olfice CASTING- ROlI llenedict Bratek, Butfalo, N. Y., assignorrof fifty perrcent tv Benjamin R. Wendrow, Bufi'ali), N. YL.

Application Aprilxl'zt 1954",,Seri2hN0. 422,390

4 Claims.. (.(lla Bi-18) This invention relates to a casting rod and more particularly to a fishing rod wherein the pole portion is movably attached to the handle portion.

An object of this invention is to provide a casting rod which is relatively short as compared to the conventional casting rods and which is provided with resilient means for retaining the flexibility of the conventional casting rods.

Another object of this invention is to provide a relatively stiff casting rod having means permitting the rod to flex on making a cast of bait.

A further object of this invention is to provide a casting rod having resilient means thereon which can be adjusted to vary the flexibility of the rod.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a casting rod which is simple and etficient in construction and durable and lasting in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a casting rod which is adapted for use under perplexing casting conditions difficult to cope with, such as for example where the banks of the body of water are lined with trees and bushes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top elevational view of the casting rod forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, with a portion broken away and shown in section of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the adusting means for the resilient spring of said casting rod;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the block for adjusting the tension on the resilient spring; and,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the device taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved casting rod forming the subject of this invention includes, a handle portion having the conventional sliding rings 12 mounted thereon for securing a reel 14 in position on the handle. One end of the handle 10 is provided with a recess or socket 16 which extends longitudinally and axially of the handle 10 and opens through one end of the handle.

A yoke 18 having a bight portion 20 and complemental legs 22 is adapted to be connected to the handle 10 by means of a pin 24 which is secured to the bight portion 20 and is received in the recess 16 in the handle 10.

A pole portion 28 is mounted on the yoke 18 and is provided with a pair of lateral projections 30 extending from opposite sides thereof adjacent one end in the manner shown. Suitable fasteners 32 extend through apertures in the free ends of the legs 22 and into recesses in the projections 30 for pivotally mounting the pole portion 28 on the yoke 18.

Extending between the intermediate portions of the 2,759,288 Patiented king. 21,. W56

2. legs' 22" is" a cross member 34 The cross member 34 supports asocket member 36 which isdisposed centrally between thelegs"- 22- and" is" provided with arectangulan bore 38 extending; therethrough parallel to the legs- A'* blocld 4W havingga' cross sectionsimilar to-tlle*bore-38f i's slidably mounted in sai-d"b'ore.

The end' of the pole portion- 28 which-is disposed be tween thedegs' 22- is provided with a transverse aperture 422 A resilient' spring; 44 is connected at" one endi tothe apertures. Theothenendof' the spring- 44i istconnected toran.:aper.ture:46virr one::end:0fltl1e:hlbck:40z.

The other end of the block 40 is provided with an externally threaded extension 48 which extends from the end of bushing 36 opposite the spring 44. An internally threaded knob 50 is threadedly engaged on the extension 48 for adjusting the block 40 longitudinally within the aperture 38. The knob 50 may he provided with a knurled outer surface to facilitate the rotation thereof in order to adjust the block 40.

The outer end of the pole portion 28 is provided with a suitable eye 52 which will receive the fish line (not shown) from the reel 14. Further, the block 40 can be provided with suitable indicia 54 (see Fig. 4) for indicating the positioning of the block 40.

In practical use of the device, the pole portion 28 is mounted on the yoke by means of the fasteners 32. Then, the pin 24 on the yoke 18 is inserted in the socket 16 in the handle 10. Then, a person using the cast-ing rod adjusts the tension of the spring 44 by rotating the nut 50. Thus, when a cast is made, the handle 10 may be held rigid but the spring 44 will permit the pole portion 28 to move out of longitudinal alignment with the handle 10.

The spring 44 will return the pole portion 28 to longitudinal alignment with the handle 10 after the cast has been completed.

Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A casting rod comprising a handle portion, a pole portion, means pivotally securing said pole portion adjacent one end thereof to said handle portion, and resilient means mounted on said handle portion engaging said one end of said pole portion for maintaining said pole portion in longitudinal alignment with said handle portion, said resilient means being longitudinally aligned with said pole portion, said handle portion being provided with a yoke extending from one end thereof, said yoke being provided with a pair of parallel legs, said pole portion being pivotally secured to the free ends of said legs, said yoke being provided with a transverse member extending between and intermediate the legs thereof, said resilient means being connected at one end to said member and at its other end to the said one end of said pole portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is adjustably connected to said member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said adjusting means comprises a block slidably mounted on said member for movement parallel to the legs of said yoke, said resilient means being connected to one end of said block and locking means connected to the other end of said block and engaging said member for selectively positioning said block with respect to said member.

4. A casting rod comprising, in combination, a linearly straight handle portion, a complemental linearly straight and rigid pole portion, a yoke having a bight portion and companion spaced parallel legs, said bight portion ab-utting and being aflixed to one end of said handle portion with the yoke in general axial alignment with the lengthwise axis of the handle portion, said pole portion being provided intermediate its inner and outer ends with a pair of aligned oppositely disposed lateral projections situated between the free ends of said legs and detachably and pivotally connected to said free ends so that said pole portion may swing into and out of longitudinal alignment with said yoke and handle portion, said pole portion being provided at its outer end with a fishing line eye, an axially disposed socket member mounted between said legs, said socket member having a non-circular bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a calibrated noncircular block slidably mounted in said bore and having a screw-threaded extension projecting through and beyond one end of the bore, an assembling and adjusting nut carried by said extension and abutting an adjacent end of said socket member, and a coil spring providing a flexible connection between one end of the block and the adjacent inner end of said pole portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,870 Whistler Mar. 25, 1913 2,306,638 Meisler Dec. 29, 1942 2,482,081 Stine Stipt. 27, 1949 2,559,933 Briney July 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 575,592 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1946 

